Neuro Surgical Smart Drill

Abstract

Craniotomies require precise bone drilling to safely access the brain while minimizing risks to neural tissue and surrounding structures. Conventional neurosurgical drills often lack real-time feedback and advanced control systems, increasing the risk of thermal damage and accidental plunging. To address these limitations, our team is developing a neurosurgical drill designed to enhance precision, safety, and efficiency during neurological procedures. This next-generation drill integrates sensor-based feedback to monitor drilling depth, bone density, and temperature in real-time. A key feature is an adaptive cooling mechanism, which actively regulates heat to prevent thermal damage to the skull and surrounding tissues during prolonged surgeries. Our device meets a growing clinical demand in a market projected to increase from $3.4 billion in 2023 to $5.28 billion by 2023. With over 1.2 million procedures annually and more than 7000 neurosurgeons in the U.S. alone, the demand is clear. The drill is engineered from high thermal conductivity metals, while the housing uses sterilizable, biocompatible materials. Estimated per-unit manufacturing cost ranges from $5,000 – $6,000, with a projected retail price of $8,000 – $10,000, ensuring the device remains competitive while delivering critical safety improvements for neurosurgical teams.

Video